Oh, heads up. You may see that thinktankcomics.com is spotty. No worries, we're just switching servers.
Best,
Mike
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Great Star Trek review!
I have a new favorite comic book reviewer! Patrick Hayes! :)
"The art and colors: Okay, now I'm on fire. I loved the look of this book."
Mr. Patrick Hayes, aka PatBorg, is clearly a man of impeccable taste! A true gentleman and scholar!
For the record, Mr. James Brown came in and colored the second half of the book (11 pages) so I could jump back to G.I. JOE and keep it on time. He was a huge help.
Best,
Mike
"The art and colors: Okay, now I'm on fire. I loved the look of this book."
Mr. Patrick Hayes, aka PatBorg, is clearly a man of impeccable taste! A true gentleman and scholar!
For the record, Mr. James Brown came in and colored the second half of the book (11 pages) so I could jump back to G.I. JOE and keep it on time. He was a huge help.
Best,
Mike
Friday, March 27, 2009
OMG mess up
If you're one of the three and a half people reading Hysteria online, you may have noticed there were no new pages this week. I got so wrapped up in two different deadlines that I clean forgot to update the site.
Sorry bout that.
Look for new pages starting Monday.
Mike
Star Trek: Alien Spotlight - Tribbles preview 2
A bunch of random pages from the Star Trek: Alien Spotlight - Tribbles comic I illustrated. In stores now.
Best,
Mike
Thursday, March 26, 2009
G.I. JOE: Origins #2 reviews
Couple of reviews.
http://comics.ign.com
This review exposes a problem I keep having with reviews of this comic. Whenever someone dislikes something about the book, it's attributed to me, but when they LIKE something they attribute it to someone else! Even if I did the work! I saw a bit of that last issue with people mixing Tom's work with mine. I understood there, as it wasn't clarified who drew what.
However this issue the problem is with the "reliance on color". When the reviewer likes the work they credit my buddy Erik Swanson. Now, Erik is like a brother to me and his help here has made it possible for me to do this book on time. BUT, he's just doing the flats, not the full colors. Basic flat colors outlining the forms under the line, and I come in and alter the color to fit what I need and do all the modeling.
Here's an example of how we're working
Flats, by the awesome Erik Swanson
Final page by me
Many people look at comic artists like a piece meal job. Like you're not supposed to create a complete image. Look, it's all drawing. There is no "penciling" and "inking". Those jobs are the invention of editors, not artists. As an artist, I'm purposely leaving areas open for color so i CAN do more painterly modeled artwork. Create some light and atmosphere with the color. I'm not being lazy with the line and let it "fall on the colorist to provide many of the finer shadows and highlights"! That makes anti-sense! Why is that so difficult to understand?
I've written a script to illustrate how that might play out -
Me - Fuck this! I aint gots no time to be drawing all this shit! I'll leave it for the colorist to do! Now, where's my scotch!?
Logic - Uh, Mike...YOU'RE the colorist!
Me - So,I can't...uh....leave the work for some other guy to do?!
Logic - ...no...
Me - ...because?...
Logic - Uh, you're the "other guy" Mike.
Me - BOB SAGET!!!
I hope this helps people understand. :)
BTW, and here's another review - http://www.hisstank.com
This issue is a tad slower then last, but believe me when I tell you it's so that Larry can show us just who all these characters are. OH, and he's setting up some great action in the upcoming issues.
Best,
mike
PS - I drew the lines too, just in case someone wants to attribute that to the pencil or Dixon Ticonderoga or something.
PSS - I'm in no way complaining about getting a BAD review. It's actually not a "bad" review, as we get a 7.5 out of 10. Honestly, it is everyone's right to not like my work - even if my awesomeness should be as clear as the brightly shining sun of a new day. BUT, if you don't dig it then you don't dig it. No sweat.
Just get your reasons correct.
http://comics.ign.com
This review exposes a problem I keep having with reviews of this comic. Whenever someone dislikes something about the book, it's attributed to me, but when they LIKE something they attribute it to someone else! Even if I did the work! I saw a bit of that last issue with people mixing Tom's work with mine. I understood there, as it wasn't clarified who drew what.
However this issue the problem is with the "reliance on color". When the reviewer likes the work they credit my buddy Erik Swanson. Now, Erik is like a brother to me and his help here has made it possible for me to do this book on time. BUT, he's just doing the flats, not the full colors. Basic flat colors outlining the forms under the line, and I come in and alter the color to fit what I need and do all the modeling.
Here's an example of how we're working
Flats, by the awesome Erik Swanson
Final page by me
Many people look at comic artists like a piece meal job. Like you're not supposed to create a complete image. Look, it's all drawing. There is no "penciling" and "inking". Those jobs are the invention of editors, not artists. As an artist, I'm purposely leaving areas open for color so i CAN do more painterly modeled artwork. Create some light and atmosphere with the color. I'm not being lazy with the line and let it "fall on the colorist to provide many of the finer shadows and highlights"! That makes anti-sense! Why is that so difficult to understand?
I've written a script to illustrate how that might play out -
Me - Fuck this! I aint gots no time to be drawing all this shit! I'll leave it for the colorist to do! Now, where's my scotch!?
Logic - Uh, Mike...YOU'RE the colorist!
Me - So,I can't...uh....leave the work for some other guy to do?!
Logic - ...no...
Me - ...because?...
Logic - Uh, you're the "other guy" Mike.
Me - BOB SAGET!!!
I hope this helps people understand. :)
BTW, and here's another review - http://www.hisstank.com
This issue is a tad slower then last, but believe me when I tell you it's so that Larry can show us just who all these characters are. OH, and he's setting up some great action in the upcoming issues.
Best,
mike
PS - I drew the lines too, just in case someone wants to attribute that to the pencil or Dixon Ticonderoga or something.
PSS - I'm in no way complaining about getting a BAD review. It's actually not a "bad" review, as we get a 7.5 out of 10. Honestly, it is everyone's right to not like my work - even if my awesomeness should be as clear as the brightly shining sun of a new day. BUT, if you don't dig it then you don't dig it. No sweat.
Just get your reasons correct.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
G.I. Joe: Origins #2 preview
You can see a few pages from issue 2 of ORIGINS here.
Although, it's mistakenly attributed to Tom Feister :(
Mike
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
CRAZY busy!
Hey everyone!
Wow, these last few weeks have been insanely busy! Problem is that everything I'm working on can't be shown here yet. Just wrapped up G.I. JOE: Origins #3, and I WISH I could show you some of it. You really get to see the JOES as a team for the first time, and there are some amazing character moments Larry has written. You're really gonna dig it, even if you're NOT a JOE fan. I have to confess I've never read a G.I. JOE comic before this, but Larry's writing is making me wish I had.
Plugging away at Fear Agent too, which is crazy fun!
Anyway, I'll share soon....when I can.
In the mean time, enjoy yourself some Hysteria!
mike
Monday, March 09, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Fear Agent: breakdowns to final page
Rick Remender just posted this fantastic page Tony Moore finished for Fear Agent #27. It was a special treat for me as it was a page I ghosted some breakdowns for and I hadn't seen the final for yet. I get a huge kick out of seeing what Tony (or anyone else I've ghosted for) does to the page. There always something to surprise me when I see the final art. Tony is especially great at bringing texture and depth to a page. Anyway, as a special treat I figured I'd post the two as a little behind the scenes look at the series. I love this kind of shop stuff, and I'm sure you all do to ;)
My rough breakdowns.
Tony's bad ass final page
Best,
mike
My rough breakdowns.
Tony's bad ass final page
Best,
mike
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hysteria for 2/23/09
Have you been reading my webcomic, Hyseria? If not, you should be!
New pages every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at www.thinktankcomics.com/
Mike
Saturday, February 21, 2009
My OTHER book...Fear Agent!
When not working on G.I. JOE Origins, I've been picking away at the other book in my life - Fear Agent, with Rick Remender and Tony Moore. Can't show you too much, since it's so early in the game, but I can tell you it's gonna knock your socks off. Rick has gone all out like never before with this book, and I'm trying to follow suit.
Anyway, enjoy a sneak peek...cause you may not see the actual book for some time ;)
mike
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
G.I. JOE: Origins out today! 2/18
Issue 1 hit stands today, and I'd love to hear what you think. Unless you didn't like it, in which case you shouldn't tell me. Basically, I only want to hear you liked it. I'm a dictator that way ;)
Since it's on stands I can finally show more art! This is Chimera, the new bad guy for the series.
Mike
PS - Apparently some shops/cities didn't get their shipment or got half shipments. I think the demand was greater then expected. Anyway, hope it gets resolved soon...
Since it's on stands I can finally show more art! This is Chimera, the new bad guy for the series.
Mike
PS - Apparently some shops/cities didn't get their shipment or got half shipments. I think the demand was greater then expected. Anyway, hope it gets resolved soon...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
G.I. Joe: Origins preview - Who drew what?
Ok, so IDW released a preview of G.I. JOE: Origins #1. There seems to be debate over it because it's unclear who drew what.
First, here's the preview.
This preview was drawn by Tom Feister, except for page four which I drew. The plan was for me to draw the second half of this issue, and the rest of the series - which is four more issues after this one. Five issues total.
Deadline issues sorta dictated that I had to draw a few pages earlier in the first half to make sure we shipped the book on time - which is why there is an odd page of mine in Feister's mix.
Here is the page in question:
Tom essentially established the style of the book, and so we decided to try and keep it similar without me trying to copy him. As the series goes on I try and slowly inject more of my approach into the art. I'm proud of how it's coming out, and I think you folks will enjoy it.
There also seems to be some mystery as to who I am. I don't do a very good job of selling who I am, since I think it's silly, but here goes...
I'm Mike Hawthorne. I've been making comics for about ten years. I've worked with every major comic publisher in America including Marvel Comics, Vertigo/DC Comics, Dark Horse, Image, Oni Press, and now IDW. My work has also seen print in Spain, France, Germany, Australia, and a bunch of other places like Mars. Maybe not Mars.
I've been nominated for the two more prestigious awards in comics - An Eisner for my work on Queen and Country, and a Harvey for my work on UMBRA.
I'm also currently penciling Fear Agent and writing and drawing a book for Vertigo.
Jenifer ( I call her "Jennie". We're pals) Garner and Huge (I call him "Huggie". Again, pals.) Jackman are my biggest fans.
In a former life i raced cars.
Oh, and I'm a super ninja badass. This is a fact, as proven in a triple blind (AKA - drunk) study by really scientific people I know from my block - like JO JO the ten speed guy, Jerry the aluminum can collector guy, and Rico with the limp.
So, hopefully this will clear things up for everyone. Hope you enjoy the book, which ships this week on Feb. 18th.
best,
Mike
First, here's the preview.
This preview was drawn by Tom Feister, except for page four which I drew. The plan was for me to draw the second half of this issue, and the rest of the series - which is four more issues after this one. Five issues total.
Deadline issues sorta dictated that I had to draw a few pages earlier in the first half to make sure we shipped the book on time - which is why there is an odd page of mine in Feister's mix.
Here is the page in question:
Tom essentially established the style of the book, and so we decided to try and keep it similar without me trying to copy him. As the series goes on I try and slowly inject more of my approach into the art. I'm proud of how it's coming out, and I think you folks will enjoy it.
There also seems to be some mystery as to who I am. I don't do a very good job of selling who I am, since I think it's silly, but here goes...
I'm Mike Hawthorne. I've been making comics for about ten years. I've worked with every major comic publisher in America including Marvel Comics, Vertigo/DC Comics, Dark Horse, Image, Oni Press, and now IDW. My work has also seen print in Spain, France, Germany, Australia, and a bunch of other places like Mars. Maybe not Mars.
I've been nominated for the two more prestigious awards in comics - An Eisner for my work on Queen and Country, and a Harvey for my work on UMBRA.
I'm also currently penciling Fear Agent and writing and drawing a book for Vertigo.
Jenifer ( I call her "Jennie". We're pals) Garner and Huge (I call him "Huggie". Again, pals.) Jackman are my biggest fans.
In a former life i raced cars.
Oh, and I'm a super ninja badass. This is a fact, as proven in a triple blind (AKA - drunk) study by really scientific people I know from my block - like JO JO the ten speed guy, Jerry the aluminum can collector guy, and Rico with the limp.
So, hopefully this will clear things up for everyone. Hope you enjoy the book, which ships this week on Feb. 18th.
best,
Mike
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
G.I. JOE: Origins #2 wrap up
Wrapped up issue 2 of Origins over the weekend, and I'm really proud of how it's turning out. Lots of great character development by Larry, and tons of great moments like Scarlett kicking three men's asses at once! ;)
Links to the NYCC IDW G.I. JOE panel from this past weekend over at my forum. Feel free to discuss.
Best!
Mike
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